The monthly Wednesday tornado siren test, a Minnesota tradition, traces its origins back to 1950s fears of a Soviet atomic bomb attack. Writer Dave Kenney, who has researched Civil Defense in Minnesota, discusses how Minnesotans responded to an evolving international threat during the Cold War.

LINKS:

Why does Minnesota test tornado sirens on the first Wednesday of the month? (April 2021 Curious Minnesota Article)

Civil Defense in Minnesota, 1950–1974 (written by Dave Kenney)